Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

Alright, so I'm new here and forgive me if I seem a little ignorant but I have a question. I've always tried to live my life in a manner similar to the life Jesus lead when he was here on earth. Of course I fall short, but I still try and with his help I feel I grow and do a little better everyday. I've looked over a lot of these posts and there's a lot of talk about shunning nonbelievers. In my life I've tried very hard to answer the call Jesus put forth to his disciples in Matthew 4:18-25

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Now obviously I can't heal and I don't have multitudes following me but I do my best to help those in need when I can and spread the gospel to those who need even if they're nonbelievers who reject Jesus. Just like Jesus did in Matthew 9:9-15

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Is my understanding of this passage wrong? It seems to me that Jesus came to save those were unsaved. He ate with sinners and spent time with them. Was that just something special Jesus did that we are not suppose to? Thank you for your time and responses, I really appreciate the help.

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

Dear Heathen;

Jesus offers us all the gift of Salvation, but that doesn't mean that everyone receives that gift. Yes, Jesus temporarily suffered and died on the cross for my sins, but that gift is offered conditionally.

Take this famous verse, for existence. Jesus DID NOT die for everyone.

He died for those that BELIEVE.

Quote:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

Everyone doesn't believe in Jesus, thus they will perish.

Please make a thread of your own in the "Introductions" section of the forum, so that we can properly greet you. Tell us about yourself, your church, and how you came to find Jesus.

And if you're here to flame us, better take a look at THIS before making an even bigger ass out of yourself.

I will pray that the Holy Spirit enter you and chase the demons out of your rectum and let Jesus fill you with His Grace. If you use your God-given free will to reject Christ and His temporary death on the cross for my sins, then you are sending yourself to hellfire.

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

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Originally Posted by Sgt. Pepper

Now obviously I can't heal and I don't have multitudes following me but I do my best to help those in need when I can and spread the gospel to those who need even if they're nonbelievers who reject Jesus. Just like Jesus did in Matthew 9:9-15

Excellent! That's just what we do here at Landover Baptist Church Forum! We help those in need by spreading the Gospel, even to those who reject the temporary Sacrifice Christ made for my sins! Say, why don't you introduce yourself so we can greet you properly! Tell us what church you go to, what your favorite Bible verse is, and how you came to Fear and Obey God (Ecclesiastes 12:13)!

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt. Pepper

Now obviously I can't heal and I don't have multitudes following me but I do my best to help those in need when I can and spread the gospel to those who need even if they're nonbelievers who reject Jesus. Just like Jesus did in Matthew 9:9-15

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Is my understanding of this passage wrong?

Hello. I never intrude opinion or instruction and none is needed here. You seem concerned that you do not have magic powers, such as spontaneous healing. And that is right: no-one does. Jesus is the great physician. But Jesus is absent from the world. He says so here:

JOHN[Jesus speaking]15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.26 But whenthe Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.5Butnow I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that Igo away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if Idepart, I will send him unto you.8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:KJV

The passage covers both your points.
It is through prayer that God, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, heals the sick.
If someone doesn't recover, either the prayer was not addressed to God, or it was not made in faith. James 5 - LINK to earlier post

Similarly, it is The Holy Spirit who convinces the sinner of sin, see verse 8 above. You mentioned that you “spread the gospel to those who need even if they're nonbelievers” which is puzzling me. Why would you spread The Gospel to people who were already believers? It is only nonbelievers who need to hear The Good News of Salvation. Everyone else is already saved. What would be the point of that? OK, most people do reject Jesus. Satan offers them a value free lifestyle with wall-to-wall booze, pimps, sex orgies, random murder, psychedelic toads, Frenchwomen, witchdoctors, heathenism and communists and they jump at the opportunity. As we know these fools do accept that there is a God but pretend to be atheists, Zoroastrians, animists, Presbyterians, psychotic delusionals, new age sex gurus and other demoniacs of the type so that they may sin. If they had never heard, that would be one thing. Having heard—but rejected Jesus—is another.

So we have an obligation to witness to those wretches. That doesn't mean we should associate with them. We must not, as has been explained in the posts you will have read concerning shunning, with full supporting Scripture.

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..Jesus came to save those were unsaved. He ate with sinners and spent time with them. Was that just something special Jesus did that we are not suppose to?

I always feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and explain The Truth to them in accordance with their understanding. I don't expect to see outcomes as such, my simple words are like a seed and they will hear others, I know. Perhaps that seed will sprout. I neglect no opportunity: that is called Faith. But when invited into their lair, or to sit in with their coven, or gross out at one of their séances or whatever other plans they might have the Christian always declines.

That is the difference between association and witnessing.

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Is my understanding of this passage wrong?

Taken in context, God's Word is always clear. Taking passages out of context is obfuscational at best. Feel free to contact The Pastors for sound teaching or to arrange a tithing plan.

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

You have completely misrepresented what this parable has meant to Christians for almost 2,000 years.
Christ was illustrating that men who should have been neighbors weren't, but the man who should have been an enemy was the true neighbor. Like the Samaritan, we are called to be a neighbor to all men, because God created us all in His image. He sees Himself in all of us, So, we, too, must see God in EVERYONE else.

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

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Originally Posted by Vivisimo

You have completely misrepresented what this parable has meant to Christians for almost 2,000 years.
Christ was illustrating that men who should have been neighbors weren't, but the man who should have been an enemy was the true neighbor. Like the Samaritan, we are called to be a neighbor to all men, because God created us all in His image. He sees Himself in all of us, So, we, too, must see God in EVERYONE else.

Hi, and welcome to our forums! Can you support this silly idea with Scripture, or is this what you've simply been taught?

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

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Originally Posted by Vivisimo

You have completely misrepresented what this parable has meant to Christians for almost 2,000 years.
Christ was illustrating that men who should have been neighbors weren't, but the man who should have been an enemy was the true neighbor. Like the Samaritan, we are called to be a neighbor to all men, because God created us all in His image. He sees Himself in all of us, So, we, too, must see God in EVERYONE else.

Hello, and welcome to our forum. I look forward to fellowshipping with you. However, if you expect your opinions to be taken seriously, you will need to support them with Holy Scripture.

We follow the Word of God, not sassy-mouthed know-it-alls from the internet. Thanks for your attention to this matter.

II Thessalonians 1:7-9And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power

The man who is being progressively sanctified will inescapably sanctify his home, school, politics, economics, science, and all things else by understanding and interpreting all things in terms of the Word of God and by bringing all things under the Dominion of Christ the King. -R.J. Rushdoony

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vivisimo

You have completely misrepresented what this parable has meant to Christians for almost 2,000 years.
Christ was illustrating that men who should have been neighbors weren't, but the man who should have been an enemy was the true neighbor. Like the Samaritan, we are called to be a neighbor to all men, because God created us all in His image. He sees Himself in all of us, So, we, too, must see God in EVERYONE else.

As you have yourself pointed out, the wretches in question were not neighbours. God did not say Love thy neighbour and love everyone else too did He? There is a clear distinction drawn. Otherwise why make any distinction at all?

LEVITICUS 1918 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
KJV

MARK 1231 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
KJV

Notice how in Leviticus the distinction is made again: nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If retribution were not to be taken against anyone at all, why specify the children of thy people? Are you suggesting that the Amalekites were included in that? Sure, they lived next door but they were not neighbours. Or Jericho? Or Ai? All wiped out to the last baby. Such historical events, recorded in the same Bible, endorsed by the same God, described using the same language as Jesus used, do not support your position.

Re: Bible Answers: Who are our neighbors? Who are our brothers and sisters? Who are we to love?

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Originally Posted by Pastor William Nathaniel Sampson

These are questions we are often asked here and I wanted to write this sermon to clear up many misconceptions that people seem to have about certain passages.

Love your neighbor, meanie!

Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

They take this to mean that we are supposed to have a big hippie love-in with everyone we meet. The question I ask them is, who are our neighbors? Fortunately for us, Jesus was asked that exact same question.

You may know it as the parable of the Good Samaritan. You may have known this story as a morality tale as that the least of us can be good and do good things for one another, but the story is actually a foundation upon which salvation lies.

Please turn with me to Luke 10:25-37

25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Most of us know the story of the Jewish man who was left for dead on the side of the road. Two Jews passed him by one was even a Levite priest, but a Samaritan (an unclean low person {John 4:9} who didn't believe in Judaism the same way the regular Jews did.) stopped to save him. Jesus ends the parable by asking this question in Luke 10:36-37

36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise

Hallelujah! Our answer is clear. Only one of the three people was Jesus' neighbor.

We are to love our neighbors as ourselves, but our neighbors are only those who display Christian love and kindness by doing God's will. The people who won't help the ministry of Christ are beyond our help and they will be cast into the fire.

Like, aren't we supposed to love one another, man?
John 13:34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Again, this scripture taken out of context would make it sound like we are supposed to go around drawing hearts and writing love poetry to everyone we see on the streets when nothing could be further from the truth.

To properly discern this saying of Jesus we have to take it into context. Who was Jesus speaking to when He gave us that commandment?

The setting is during the last supper. Jesus is sitting there with His disciples. It was a closed event.

You only need to look at the next verse to realize that Jesus didn't include everyone in this.

By this shall allmen (the rest of them or everyone else)know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

We are to love our fellow Christians.

But wait! I'm a Christian!

Maybe you are maybe you aren't. We'll know soon enough. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:16-21

16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Only those who live Christianity in other words.

But isn't everyone a "brother" or a "sister" by virtue that we are all related somehow?

That would be an emphatic no. Jesus tells us that our own flesh and blood family cannot stand in the way of following Him.

Luke 14:26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Not only did Jesus tell us to do this, but He followed it by denying his own mother and siblings. Please turn to Matthew 12:46-50 with me

46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Jesus tells us that only those who follow Him are your brother and sisters.

Thankfully, we have the Epistles to deal with this situation. If someone calls his/her self a brother or sister and they continue in sin, the Bible is specific how we are to treat them. Please see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

We are to shun you and ignore you. If you are preaching a Gospel other than what is in the Bible like coddling queers and other assorted sinners, we are to not listen to you. We are not allowed to greet you warmly much less let you into our home or we are culpable in your sins. Please see 2 John 1:9-11.
9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

In summation, there are many verses about love in the Bible that are incorrectly attributed to mean that we are to love everyone no matter what. The Truth, as always, lies in God's Word.

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